U.S. YouTuber Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has been sentenced to six months in prison and 20 days of detention by a South Korean court on April 15.
The Seoul Western District Court also imposed a five-year ban preventing him from working in institutions involving children, teenagers, and people with disabilities, according to Chosun Biz.
Reports from The Korea Herald stated that Ismael was found guilty of public nuisance and distributing AI-generated sexual content. He was charged under laws related to obstruction of business and violations involving fabricated sexual imagery.
The 25-year-old former livestreamer had previously built an online following of around 20,000 subscribers before his channel was suspended. He later became widely known for a series of controversial stunts in South Korea, including an incident in which he kissed the Statue of Peace, a memorial dedicated to World War II comfort women, in October 2024.
He also drew public backlash after engaging in disruptive behaviour in public spaces, including incidents at convenience stores, on public transport, and on city streets, which led to multiple police reports and a travel ban.
Court documents and local reports also noted additional incidents involving provocative acts linked to politically sensitive symbols and slogans, further escalating public criticism during his stay in the country.
During earlier court proceedings, prosecutors had initially sought a three-year prison sentence and a fine. However, the final ruling handed down in April resulted in a shorter custodial term but additional restrictions on future employment.
The case was further complicated after prosecutors added charges related to a deepfake video involving the YouTuber and a South Korean content creator, which was distributed online.
Authorities said the ruling reflects growing legal scrutiny over online misconduct and the misuse of AI-generated content in South Korea.
